St. John's Royal Arch Chapter No.115

The St. John’s Royal Arch Chapter is affiliated with the Lodge of St. John No. 115, which is the oldest Lodge under the banner of the District Grand Lodge of Gibraltar. The Chapter was constituted on 6th August 1873, and like Lodge of St. John in the Craft, is the only Chapter in the District to have its own ritual in Spanish.

Not much is known from the period between 1873-1903 as the minutes’ books went missing and little information remains; however, it is known that the Chapter worked intermittently until 1903. In other parts of its history, we know that from 1941-1945, during the Second World War, St John’s Chapter was unable to meet as the civilian population were evacuated to the islands of Madeira and Jamaica, as well as London, and Northern Ireland: locations initially thought to be safer than Gibraltar which was considered a target. In fact, some of the older Companions of the District were born in these locations, returning after the war.

More recently, after a long communication with Supreme Grand Chapter, the late E Comp J I Benrimoj received a Centenary Warrant for St John’s Royal Arch Chapter No.115, dated 12th November 2008, with permission given for the bona fide companions to wear the Centenary Jewel.